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I  THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY,  | 


Princeton,  N.  J.    W^ 


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ADDRESS 


raoM  THE 


y  - 

PRESBYTERY  OF  NEW- YORK 


CHURCHES   UNDER   THEIR  CARE, 


ON    THE    SUBJECT    Off 


EDUCATING  POOR  AND  PIOUS  YOUTH 


GOSPEL  MINISTRY. 


Printed  by  T.  8c  J.  Swords, 
No.  15b  Pearl-street. 

1805. 


The  Presbyters)  of  New-York  to  the  Churches 
under  their  care  wish  grace,  mercy,  and  peace 
from  God  the  Father^  andfrojn  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ. 

Dear  Brethren, 

It  has  been,  for  several  years,  a  source  of  grow- 
ing concern  with  many  friends  of  our  Church, 
that  the  interests  of  rehgion  among  us  are  greatly 
suffering  for  want  of  an  additional  number  of 
pious,  able,  and  faithful  Ministers  of  the  Gos- 
pel. While  the  population  of  our  country  has 
been  rapidly  extending;  while  new  settlements 
have  been  forming ;  and  new  Churches  in  quick 
succession  rising  to  view  ;  the  increase  of  the 
numberof  ministers  has  been  slow,  and  altoge- 
ther incommensurate  with  the  increasing  demand 
for  their  services.  This  deficiency  has  become 
serious  and  alarming.  Important  congregations, 
which  have  long  enjoyed  the  ministrations  of  the 
Gospel,  when  they  become  vacant,  arc,  with  the 
utmost  difficulty,  supplied  with  pastors.  Large 
districts,  within  the  bounds  of  old  settlements, 
in  which  Churches  might  easily  be  planted,  and 
where  Ministers  would  meet  with  a  cordial  wel- 


(  *  ) 

come,  are  lying  waste  for  want  of  their  labours; — . 
and  more  than  one  thousand  congregations,  on 
the  extensive  frontier  of  the  United  States,  as 
well  informed  persons  have  asserted,  are  able  and 
willing  to  support  spiritual  teachers,  but  cry  for 
them  in  vain. 

A  deficiency  so  long  deplored,  and  so  evi- 
dently growing,  has  at  length  engaged  the  seri- 
ous attention  of  the  supreme  judicatory  of  our 
Church.  The  General  Assembly,  at  their  last 
sessions,  received,  and  directed  the  publication 
of  an  interesting  Overture  on  this  subject.  This 
Overture,  after  stating  in  strong  and  affecting 
language,  the  deficiency  complained  of,  recom- 
mends that  exertions  be  made  by  the  respective 
Presbyteries  to  remedy  the  evil.  It  proposes  that 
each  Presbytery  should  undertake  to  look  out 
for  the  most  promising  characters  among  the 
pious  youth  within  its  knowledge;  to  conduct 
those  who  may  be  selected  through  their  aca- 
demical and  theological  studies;  and,  during 
this  course,  to  furnish  them  with  the  means  of 
support,  either  in  whole  or  in  part,  as  their  cir- 
cumstances may  require,  and  as  the  resources  of 
the  Presbytery  may  render  practicable. 

The  Presbytery  of  New-York  having  taken 
this  Overture  of  the  Assembly  into  serious  con- 
sideration, have  resolved  to  adopt  the  plan  which 


(     5     ) 

it  recommends.  In  the  execution  of  this  plan 
they  are  sensible  that  much  prudence,  circum- 
spection and  watchfulness  will  be  necessary; 
and  they  cannot  be  so  unreasonable  as  to  hope 
that  an  undertaking  of  such  magnitude  will  be 
unattended  with  difficulty.  But  deeply  affected 
with  the  pressing  exigencies  of  the  Church  ;  and 
convinced  that  the  delay  of  even  a  single  year 
may  prove  injurious  to  its  best  interests,  they 
cannot  forbear  to  go  forward.  In  the  name  of 
Him  who  is  set  as  King  upon  the  holy  hill  of 
Zion,  they  lift  up  their  banner ;  in  his  grace  and 
strength  they  confide  for  success ;  and  to  those 
who  love  his  cause  they  look  for  encouragement 
and  aid. 

To  facilitate  the  accomplishment  of  their  ob- 
ject, the  Presbytery  have  appointed  a  Standing 
Committee  of  Ministers  and  Elders,  whose 
duty  it  is  to  look  out  for  young  men — to  ex- 
amine their  qualifications — 'to  superintend  their 
academick  instruction — to  direct  their  theologi- 
cal studies — and,  in  general,  to  do  all  those  things 
which  may  be  necessary  for  completing  their 
education.  This  Committee  is  to  be  annually 
renewed;  and,  in  all  its  proceedings,  is  to  act 
under  the  direction  of  the  Presbytery. 

This  method  of  introducing  young  men  into 
the  Gospel  Ministry  willj  it  is  believed,  be  at- 


(     6     ) 

tended  with  important  advantages.  Chosen  and 
educated  by  the  Presbytery,  they  will  be  con- 
stantly under  its  inspection  and  control.  Known 
to  the  ministers  and  congregations  belonging  to 
the  judicatory,  a  more  than  ordinary  interest  will 
be  taken  in  their  support,  character,  and  useful- 
ness. And  the  youth  thus  selected  and  che- 
rished will  feel  aa  additional  responsibility,  and 
a  peculiar  excitement  to  gratify  the  just  expect- 
ations of  their  patrons  and  benefactors.  Nor  is 
it  a  point  of  small  importance,  that  while  indi- 
viduals and  congregations  will  be  called  upon  to 
furnish  the  means  of  supporting  this  system  of 
education,  it  will  lie  with  them,  either  person- 
ally, or  by  their  representatives,  to  direct  the 
manner  in  which  their  pious  liberality  shall  be 
appropriated. 

For  defraying  the  large  expenses  which  must 
necessarily  be  incurred  in  the  execution  of  this 
plan,  the  Presbytery  rely  on  annual  collections 
in  the  Churches  under  their  care — the  liberality 
of  wealthy  and  charitable  individuals — and  the 
bequests  of  those  who  may  be  inclined  to  remem- 
ber this  object  in  their  last  wills.  These  sources 
of  revenue,  it  is  hoped,  will  be  increasingly  pro- 
ductive when  the  nature  and  importance  of  our 
undertaking  shall  be  generally  understood;  and 
especially  when  it  is  considered,  that  if  suitable 


<  ■?  ) 

encouragement  be  afForded^  there  is  every  human 
prospect  of  the  most  gratifying  success. 

Having  thus,  dear  brethren,  laid  before  you 
the  plan  suggested  by  the  General  Assembly,  and 
on  whichj  after  mature  deliberation,  wg  have 
resolved  to  act,  we  must  entreat  your  concur- 
rence and  aid  in  its  execution.     We  ask  for  your 
prayers  and  your  pecuniary  assistance.    Without 
liberal  contributions  it  will  be  impossible  to  con- 
duct our  undertaking  either  with  vigour  or  suc- 
cess.    The  arguments  which  address  themselves 
to  your  liberality  are  of  the  most  interesting  and 
solemn  kind.     As  the  friends  of  vital  religion^ 
you  cannot  be  supposed  either  to  forget  or  to  dis- 
regard the  importance  of  the  Christian  Ministry, 
to  yourselves,  to  your  families,  to  your  country, 
and  to  the  Church  of  God.  But  we  wish  you  to  be 
distinctly  apprized,   that  without  prompt  and 
vigorous  measures  to  add  to  the  number  of  our 
pious  and  faithful  Ministers,  the  best  interests 
of  our  Church,  in  all  human  probability,  must 
deplorably  languish.    Many  congregations,  now 
large  and  promising,  must  fall  into  decay  and  dis- 
solution 5  and  thousands  of  immortal  souls,  now 
crying  for  help,  must  be  left  to  perish  for  lack  of 
knowledge.    Ye  who  love  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ 
in  sincerity!  in  contemplating  such  an  awful  al- 
ternative, is  not  your  tenderest  compassion  ex- 


(     8     ) 

cited — your  holy  emulation  roused — your  zeal  in- 
flamed— and  your  love  to  the  Redeemer's  king- 
dom called  into  lively  and  beneficent  action  ?  To 
be  unaffected  with  such  melancholy  prospects, 
would  betray  an  insensibility  of  which  yotj  can- 
not be  suspected.  To  repose  in  sloth  when  there 
is  so  much  to  be  done,  is  unworthy  of  those  w^ho 
consider  themselves  as  not  their  own,  but  bought 
with  a  price,  and  bound  to  glorify  God  in  their 
bodies  and  spirits,  which  are  his. 

In  this  benevolent  undertaking,  we  entertain 
no  doubt  that  our  Sister  Presbyteries  will  cordi- 
ally and  zealously  co-operate  with  us.  The  call 
for  exertion  is  so  loud  and  solemn,  that  it  is  be- 
ginning to  be  heard  by  all  our  judicatories,  and, 
we  hope  will  speedily  produce  a  "  general  move- 
ment" of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United 
States.  And  if  it  should  please  the  great  Head 
of  the  Church  to  smile  upon  our  united  efforts, 
by  opening  the  hearts  of  Christians  to  devise  li- 
beral things — by  strengthening  our  hands  in  the 
arduous  enterprise— and  by  crowning  our  endea- 
vours with  success,  what  happy  result  may  we 
not  anticipate  ?  May  we  not  hope  that  the  ex- 
ertions now  commenced  will  form  a  new  and 
glorious  era  in  the  history  of  our  Church ; — that 
the  humble  beginning  now  contemplated  will 
prove  the  means  of  sending  hundreds,  and  even 


{      9      ) 
thousands  of  pastors  to  hungering  and  thirsting 
souls--and  that  generations  yet  unborn  will  have 
reason  to  rise  up  and  call  you  blessed  ? 

To  Pious  Young  Men. 

We  feel  an  earnest  desire  to  call  your  atten- 
tion to  this  important  object.  You  are  now  just 
entering  on  the  stage  of  action,  and  have  arrived 
at  an  age  when  you  must  shortly  choose  some 
profession  for  life.  You  have  often  looked  around 
you,  with  an  anxiety  inseparable  from  piety,  and 
have  inquired  how  you  could  best  employ  the 
powers  which  God  created — the  rational  souls 
which  Christ  redeemed — to  the  honour  of  your 
Father  and  Saviour  ?  You  have  but  one  life  to 
live,  and  how  shall  that  life  be  spent  most  to 
the  glory  of  God  and  the  happiness  of  men? 
These  questions,  which  have  often  arisen  amidst 
your  pious  meditations,  must,  in  a  little  time,  be 
decided.  The  object  of  this  Address  is  to  sug- 
gest some  considerations  which  may  assist  you 
in  forming  the  great  decision. 

Has  it  ever  occurred  to  you,  that  it  may  per- 
haps be  the  will  of  God  to  employ  you  in  the 
ministry  of  his  Son  }  Is  this  a  new  thought?  Yet 
let  it  not  be  dismissed  as  too  extravagant  to  de- 
serve attention.  Place  it  distinctly  before  your 
minds,  and  examine  it  on  every  side.  The  Church 


(      10     ) 

needs,  more  than  she  needs  any  thing  except 
larger  supplies  of  the  divine  Spirit,  many  evan- 
gelical and  apostolic  men  added  to  the  number 
.of  her  present  Clergy.     If  those  men  are  found^^ 
they  must  be  found  among  youth  of  your  spirit. 
Only  such  as  you  can  supply  materials  for  future 
Ministers,  such  as  the  interest  of  the  Church  re- 
quires, such  as  her  necessities  pressingly  demand. 
For  want  of  such  Ministers,  immortal  souls  are 
perishing,  in  our  land  by  thousands,  in  our  world 
by  millions.     Let  the  thought  interest  and  affect 
your  hearts,  that  the  blessed  Saviour,  who  re- 
quires your  service,  has  passed  by  other  youth 
and  set  his  love  on  you.  By  distinguishing  grace 
he  has  separated  you  from  your  former  compa- 
nions; and  while  they  are  left  in  sin  and  endless 
ruin,  he  has  given  you  a  title  to  the  inheritance  of 
the  saints  in  light — and  all  this,  that  you  might 
possess  the  spirit  necessary  to  qualify  you  for  the 
Gospel  ministry.     Why  have  you  been  thus  dis- 
tinguished and  qualified?     Is  it  not  that  you 
might  devote  yourselves  to  this  sacred  work.? 
And  what  hinders  you  from  sharing  this  glory  } 
You  possess  the  first  and  most  essential  qualifica- 
tion ',  and  provisions  are  now  about  to  be  made, 
we  hope  on  an  extensive  scale,  for  carrying  you 
through  a  course  of  academical  and  theological 
studies.  There  is  a  fair  prospect,  that  such  of  you 


(    n    ) 

as  possess  respectable  natural  talents,  may  be- 
come  Ministers,  and  useful  Ministers,  if  you  are 
disposed  to  embrace  the  opportunity.  Let  this 
question  then  engage  your  deep  and  solemn  con- 
sideration :  To  what  other  pursuit  do  so  many 
and  so  sacred  motives  solicit  you?  Standing  as 
you  now  do  on  the  point  of  choosing  a  profession, 
whom  will  you  set  up  for  your  example  ?  Can  a 
better  be  found  than  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  ?  That 
august  Personage  passed  the  period  of  human  life 
on  this  earth,  and  took  a  part  in  the  active  scenes 
of  men.  And  to  what  profession  did  he  devote 
himself?  To  that  of  preaching  the  everlasting 
Gospel  to  perishing  men.  Supported  by  the 
unequivocal  declaration  of  such  an  example,  may 
we  not  confidently  pronounce,  that  human  life 
can  be  spent  in  no  manner  so  desirable,  so  noble, 
so  godlike,  as  in  the  labours  of  the  Gospel  mi- 
nistry? We  are  aware,  that  our  Saviour  is  not 
to  be  held  up  as  an  example,  in  this  respect,  to 
all  men,  since  it  is  obvious  that  all  cannot 
sustain  the  Pastoral  office ;  but  we  are  firmly 
persuaded,  that  while  such  an  example  shows 
the  superior  importance  of  the  Gospel  ministry, 
it  ought,  under  the  present  necessities  of  the 
Church,  to  have  a  binding  influence  upon  young 
men  who  possess  piety  and  talents,  and  other 
qualifications  for  the  sacred  work. 


(      12      ) 

In  what  other  way  can  the  powers  of  the  soul 
be  so  directly  applied  to  promote  the  glory  of 
God,  and  the  best  interests  of  men  ?  The  Gos- 
pel mmistry  is  the  principal  mean  appointed  by 
heaven  to  advance  the  truest  happiness  of  men 
on  earth,  and  their  glory  beyond  the  grave. 
Those  who  conduct  the  interests,  and  decide  the 
fate  of  nations,  have  it,  indeed,  in  their  power 
to  confer  important  benefits  on  the  world.  Those 
whose  professional  business  it  is  to  defend  the 
property  and  lives  of  men — those  who  fill  the 
seats  of  justice — those  who  practise  the  healing 
art — all  claim  our  respect  and  gratitude.  But 
in  no  employment  can  men  render  such  essential 
and  eminent  service  to  the  human  rac^e,  as  in  a 
course  of  ministerial  labours,  appointed  by  God 
to  pluck  immortal  spirits  as  brands  from  evcr^ 
lasting  burnings,  to  prepare  them  for  the  hap- 
piness of  heaven,  and  to  promote  that  grand 
cause  for  which  the  world  was  made,  for  which 
the  world  was  redeemed,  for  which  the  world  is 
preserved  and  governed.  Could  any  one  of  you 
be  the  instrument  of  saving  a  single  soul,  he 
would  achieve  infinitely  more  than  by  subserving 
the  convenience  of  men  in  the  mechanic  arts; 
by  settling  any  questions  relating  to  temporal 
estates ;  or  by  conquering  and  governing  nations. 
Could  any  one  of  you  be  favoured  with  as  much 


(     13     ) 

usefulness  to  the  Church  as  falls  to  the  lot  ol  many 
faithful  Ministers,  he  might  enjoy  the  thought 
of  having  been  the  instrument  of  rescuing  hun- 
dreds from  eternal  woe,  and  raising  them  to 
everlasting  joys.  Casting  the  eye  down  the  ages 
of  eternity,  what  an  incalculable  amount  of  hap« 
piness  will  he  have  been  the  means  of  produc- 
ing !  Transport  yoursefves  for  a  moment  to  the 
solemnities  of  the  final  judgment.  Behold  a  band 
of  blessed  spirits,  redeemed  from  death  by  your 
instrumentality,  shouting  salvation,  and  taking 
in  the  prospect  of  immortal  joy,  who  otherwise 
would  have  been  crying  to  rocks  and  to  moun- 
tains to  cover  them — behold  them  coming  to  em- 
brace you,  to  pour  their  thanks  into  your  bo- 
som, and  to  bend  with  you,  adoring,  at  the 
throne  of  God ! — -What  are  now  the  emotions 
of  your  souls  ? — Would  the  glitter  of  wealth,  or 
the  glory  of  empire  have  filled  you  with  joy  like 
this?  In  the  light  of  the  final  judgment,  the 
importance  of  all  other  employments  is  lost  in 
comparison  with  the  Gospel  ministry,  as  time  is 
swallowed  up  in  eternity. 

Consider  further,  that  this  blessed  work  will 
furnish  you  with  the  best  means  of  your  own 
sanctiiication  and  spiritual  enjoyment.  Engaged 
ardently  and  affectionately  in  this,  every  day  will 
bring  you  the  delights  of  a  holy  sabbath  ; — and. 


(      14     ) 

in  the  room  of  other  toils,  the  labour  of  your  life 
will  be  in  those  studies  which  open  the  won- 
ders of  God  to  the  mind,  and  in  those  pleasing 
exercises  which  other  Christians  are  thankful  for 
being  permitted  to  enjoy  one  day  in  seven.  Such 
a  manner  of  life  cannot  fail  to  advance  your  pre- 
sent peace,  and  to  give  a  brighter  lustre  to  your 
immortal  crown — a  crown  in  which  every  soul, 
redeemed  from  death  by  your  means,  shall  con- 
stitute a  new  and  splendid  jewel.  An  hundred 
ages  hence  you  will  bless  God  for  having  in- 
creased the  glory  of  your  eternity,  by  putting  you 
into  the  ministry  of  his  Son.  Grand  and  de- 
lightful is  that  promise.  They  that  turn  many  to 
righteousness  shall  shine  as  the  stars  for  ever  and 
ever. 

Urged  by  all  these  motives,  come — we  af- 
fectionately invite  you  to  come — and  take  part 
with  us  in  the  ministry  of  the  grace  of  God. 
The  example  of  Christ  invites  you  to  come — ■ 
the  tears  of  bereaved  Churches,  who  can  find 
none  to  break  unto  them  the  bread  of  life, 
plead  with  you  to  come — the  miseries  of  wan- 
dering souls,  who  find  none  to  lead  them  to  hea- 
ven, press  you  to  come.  Come  then,  and  take 
part  with  us  in  the  labours  and  rewards  of  the 
ministry  of  reconciliation ! 

We  conclude,  with  a  short  address 


(      15      ) 

To  Pious  Parents, 
Who  among  you  have  any  Sons  to  devote  to 
Christ  for  the  service  of  his  sanctuary?  Who 
among  you  have  any  young  Samuels,  the  chil- 
dren of  prayer,  whom  you  have  lent  unto  the 
Lord  with  ardent  desires,  that  as  long  as  they 
live  they  may  be  the  Lord's  ?  Can  you  better 
dispose^  of  them  than  by  training  them  up  for  the 
Gospel  ministry,  to  bear  the  vessels  of  Him  to 
whose  service  you  have  solemnly  consecrated 
them  in  baptism  ?  Would  it  not  fill  you  with  sub- 
lime joy  to  know  that  you  had  brought  children 
into  the  world  to  be  the  instruments  of  large  ac- 
cessions to  the  assembly  of  the  redeemed,  to  the 
everlasting  kingdom  of  Messiah  ?  When  a  nu- 
merous company  of  celestial  spirits  should  hail 
you  as  the  blessed  parents  of  the  beloved  instru- 
ments of  their  salvation,  would  you  not  feel 
greater  joy  than  you  would  have  done  in  be- 
holding your  sons  seated  on  earthly  thrones,  en- 
-circled  with  the  wreaths  of  fame  ?  If  you  love 
your  pious  sons,  give  them  to  the  Church,  and 
increase  their  everlasting  happiness.  If  you  love 
your  Saviour,  whose  bowels  yearned  and  bled 
for  you,  from  your  own  bowels  give  him  Minis- 
ters— give  to  his  service  those  whom  he  died  to 
redeem,  to  soothe  and  comfort  your  parental 
hearts.     If  each  of  you  can  give  a  pious  Minis- 


(      16     ) 

ter  to  the  Church,  the  whole  Church  will  have 
reason  to  thank  God  for  your  existence,  and  you 
yourselves  may  bless  him  for  ever  that  you  have 
not  lived  in  vain. 

Brethren,  farewell.     The  grace  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  be  with  your  sph'its!     Amen. 

Signed  bi;  Order  of  the  Preshvterij^ 

Mx\rTiiEw  La  Rue  Perrine,  Moderator. 
John  M'Dowell,  Clerk. 

Orange-Dale,  Oct.  2,  1805. 


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